Avelox and heart

I am 36 year old female and was prescribed Avelox for an ear infection and sinus infection. By day 5 I discontinued taking the drug. I've never had such a bad reaction to a medication. By day 5, I had major dizziness (the room was spinning), my heart was beating fast and I felt like I was going to pass out. I had a burning sensation along the back of my neck and a tightness in the left side of my chest. I had a headache and some nausea but felt completely out of it. My hands and feet jerked by themselves. I felt anxious and didn't know what else to do but go and lay down in bed. I tried to keep calm but then I started sobbing like a kid whose family pet died ( I can't remember the last time I cried). I was afraid to go to bed fearing that I would not wake up. What the heck... I will never take Avelox again.

After experiencing these effects, I looked on-line and found this site. Glad to know I'm not alone. I did go to sleep only to have mega weird dreams about motor vehicle accidents along the highway and eating a live crab/lobster creature only to have to bury it in the garden for a bunny??? Crazy and WTF ?!

My doctor prescribed Avelox 400 mg tablets to treat pneumonia. I was warned by the pharmacist not to take it with my morning vitamins, so I took it 1/2 hour before bed time - needless to say I hardly slept. I started itching all over, my arms started tingling, my heart was racing a hundred miles an hour. Believe it or not I took another one the next night, and yep it happened again, I thought I was dying. My blood pressure dropped to 99/78 and my pulse was 50 - my normal vitals are 120/60, and pulse is 95. It seemed that within minutes my pulse jumped to 115 and my pressure was 138/90. I guess that is what an anxiety attach feels like. Then to top it all off, it felt like someone was pouring water in my veins, this feeling of rushing water ran from my fingers up my arms in into my shoulders then my heart would jump again; I had weakness is my legs and felt nausea the entire next day. I contacted my doctor with no return call, so I discontinued the medication. I do not believe the benefits of this medication out weigh the side effects. I will not ever take this medicine again. I will pray for healing for all of you, God bless and keep smiling.

I recently had a severe Drug Reation to Avelox in April 2009. Within 5 minutes after taking it, I started with heart palpitations, very similar to an anxiety attack. My thinking started to get out control, my breathing became shortened and rapid, much like a panic attack. I started to itch, couldn't think and felt like I was losing control of everything. Within 10 minutes I knew it was getting worse. I had my husband call 911 and the operator told me to take benadryl while I was waiting for the squad, and I did. The squad was there in a reasonable amount of time. However, at this point I was so short of breath, I could barely walk & talk. I just collapsed as soon as I reached my porch steps. It nearly took me 1/2 hr before I could walk to the squad, only taking a few steps at a time and waiting about 5 minutes or more, before walking again. I hardly remember walking out to the squad and the ride to hospital. I remember being totally limp, and was
carried down my porch steps. I barely remember getting into the squad. I had to answer questions in short phrases, pausing several times to get enough breath to do so. I was told by the time I got to the hospital I was purple. After about an hour things started to calm down. I came very close to "buying the farm" that night and never want to experience anything like it again. I spent the next 7 days in the hospital, on oxygen and several medications to help me breath and clear the tracheal bronchitis.

this is probably the worst thing Avelox caused, besides death, which would have happened without help..

7th day on Avelox for sinusitus - massive pain back of my head, sweating so much my clothes were soaked, threw up 2 times, legs were uncoordinated when trying to walk

Called 911 - paramedics took blood pressure - guess what.. 210/180.. something was definitely wrong. Rushed to hospital - passed out in ER - woke up with wife and family present - CT scan found my brain bleeding and brain surgery was performed to remove the clot..

But wait, it gets better... 2 days in the ICU my brain swelled from the surgery and the fluid stopped circulating.. I was semi conscious in the ICU for probably 4-5 hours and nothing was done. My wife came in early in the morning and thought I was sleeping, but could not wake me.. The nurse said that a doctor was called and will be there later. I'm DYING right before their eyes in the ICU!!! My wife demanded I get a CT scan immediately. If she didn't I would have stopped breathing. Later CT showed my ventricles enlarged with fluid backed up so much that my brain and brainstem was ridiculously squeezed so much, my head was all ventricles and barely any brain showing in the CT. I attribute my current brain damage to this episode.

A shunt was placed in my head for about 3 days.. basically a needle is inserted into my brain and left there to drain the excess fluid.. After my condition stabilized, the shunt was removed.

Spent 1 week in the hospital, then transferred to another hospital to stay in for inpatient PT and treatment. I didn't know left from right, had double vision, was throwing up constantly, was hot, then very cold, my legs hurt, had hallucinations (was believing certain things were happening, that really weren't) was incontinent, had a new catheter inserted every single day, was taught to walk again, had to use a wheelchair.

I had always been healthy, was vegetarian and did not smoke cigarettes.. I exercised regularly, did not use drugs (i.e. - cocaine or methamphetamine which can cause high blood pressure leading to a stroke)

Didn't know what happened to me, but realized I had to be there.. After 1 month, decided to go home (the hospital was becoming too stressful, somebody was always screaming and yelling at night and the daily catheters were uncomfortable), to be back in the lifestyle I knew.. my wife, my granddaughter, my house, my dog, cats, and other pets were sorely missed.

Once home I found that I couldn't do what I used to anymore - could not mow the lawn, drive, speak well, walk properly, had double vision, a tingling on my face, a metallic taste in my mouth so bad that good food tasted bad.

My wife set me up for physical therapy three times a week daily outpatient at the hospital I was at. Vomited regularly from the daily dizziness.

This was most disturbing, I developed a pain in my left hand and left shoulder, to the point where I could not raise my arm above my head and had to sleep with my arm straight down for at least a year. After playing guitar for 30 years, I found myself unable to play my guitar anymore. My left hand had lost all its dexterity and was not usable. I did not realize what happened to me until my wife explained the entire thing to me.

In the next few weeks I spent each day trying to put "2 and 2 together" and figure out why this happened to me. When doing research on strokes, I realized that certain things happened to me that were not consistent with having a stroke. In my brain damaged condition, I remembered taking the antibiotic Avelox, based on a physicians prescription. I researched the adverse effects and to my amazement, the listed side effects were consistent with what happened to me.

I began a quest to file a lawsuit - was unable to find a lawyer willing to tackle such a huge case.. although one lawyer did file before the 2 year time limit expired.. I had MRI's performed on my hand and shoulder which revealed scarring and previous ligament tearing.

During the time of having more outpatient and in home therapy, I regularly visited a psychologist and my physician confirmed that the Avelox most likely caused the brain bleed, tendon tears, and other mysterious symptoms when I presented him with my research. I was unable to work and my only income was from monthly Social Security Disability benefits that didn't begin until 6 months after the incident.. leaving me with no income and unpaid bills for 6 months. The mortgage payments fell behind and soon foreclosure notices arrived. We decided that an alternative would be to sell the house.. it could not be sold after 1 years attempt, so my wife and I moved to an affordable apartment. I put household items in a storage facility. I either sold to pay bills or threw away much of my personal things,since I was devastated by what happened to me, I didn't think I was going to survive long after reading statistics on strokes.

While in the apartment, I needed an income and was forced to take what was in the scpoe of my limited ability. I accepted an early morning paper route and then made deliveries for a courier company using my own vehicle.. That was a 12 hour work day. Being completely upset over what happened, losing everything including my house.. I decided to attempt to escape the overwhelming things that happened and were still happening. I found a house for rent that was less than the apartments rent, except it was in North Carolina. At the time that seemed perfect, a 3 bedroom house located in a far away place where I could forget everything that happened and make a fresh start. Only problem is my wife not want to go, but I was adamant upon doing it. She helped me move everything, including all storage items.. I had moved to North Carolina, but soon found being alone and unable to find suitable employment unbearable. I was being contacted for back rent owed, but could not do everything alone - I became more depressed to the point of feeling suicidal, so I called my aunt in NY and she said just leave everything and get myself to her house. I did, leaving everything behind, and stayed with her for a month until my cousin invited me to stay with him.. which I did. I stayed with him for 3 months, all the while searching for employment.

With help from my family I moved back to my familiar area in NJ in the summer of 2008. I had lost everything..unable to be physical with my wife and being seperated for 18 months, she has requested a divorce. Currently I live by myself and am still slowly recovering, yet my left arm and hand are uncoordinated, my talking is difficult, slurred and gravely (diagnosed with dysarthria), my balance is bad and am dizzy every single day for the past 4 years.. Although brain damaged, I am attempting to rejoin the computer support business again.

My entire past, everything I knew and did, everyone I knew, who I was, etc.. is all a strange hazy memory. If I don't take a sleep aid, I wake up around 4am with racing thoughts, unable to sleep.. My depression and anxiety are so bad, it is difficult to function and interact with others. My psychiatrist has diagnosed me with post-traumatic stress disorder and prescribed Zoloft and Xanax.

Upon proper research, I have to blame the prescription and subsequent use of Avelox for causing the brain bleed which led to my life being completely and utterly destroyed. My intentions are to file suit against the manufacturer Bayer and/or the hospital for allowing me to die in the ICU

Today is the 10th and last day of Avelox for me. My heart is racing and pounding, I am very jittery and anxious, I have little appetite, and have extreme fatigue. I have also been on 6 days of prednisone, so I don't know if one or both of these medications is causing my symptoms. All I know is I will be glad to be off both of them and hope and pray my sinus infection doesn't come back!

THIS IS TO MR SINUSITIS AND HIS ARROGANT COMMENT. I am a 22 year old male United States Air Force Reservist who currently has chronic sinusitis and just completed my 7 day trial of AVELOX. I just read everyone comments on the side effects of this horrible pill, and i am thankful i am now going insane lol. I have had the nausea, headaches, very bad body pains, tendon pains and very vertigo feeling ( almost like i am no longer human, too hard to explain.) i am very angered at the person ( mrsinusitis) who had the audacity to call everyone fat and the only reason why we have these side effects is because we are lazy, unhealthy human beings. SORRY GUY... I AM VERY FIT, IN THE MILITARY, EAT VERY VERY HEALTHY AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE HORRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS MYSELF. so please, before you speak, think about what you say. Just because you may not have these side effects, does not mean the thousands of others that are experiencing this are not. THANK YOU. I FEEL ALL OF YOUR GUYS PAIN. AVELOX IS THE WORST MEDICATION IVE EVER TAKEN, other than the peanut butter shot in the butt in bootcamp :)

headache, nausea, body pains, depression, vertigo feeling, cant think clearly, tendon pains, feet feel like they are swollen, back pains, blurred vision.

GOTTA LOVE IT!!!

My mother started on Avelox, along with a steroid nasal spray. After 3 days, she started having severe anxiety attacks, with hallucinations at night. We blamed the steroid spray, and continued with the Avelox. Big mistake. After 2 trips to the ER, which proved that her heart, lungs, and bloodwork were all OK, we investigated the Avelox, and immediately stopped the treatment. Benadryl seemed to quell the anxiety, and allowed her to sleep. The drug company downplays the side effect of anxiety, and hallucinations. Be on the lookout!!! This drug is dangerous!

I asked the doc to prescribe me Avelox 400mg because i have had bad side effects from Biaxin and Erythromycin. I get chronic upper respiratory tract infections from allergies etc. I figured my mother took this med with no side effects (and she is usually very sensitive to all meds including vitamins) so perhaps i could take it without side effects. I was wrong. I took my first pill at 2pm and about one hour later i was starting to feel on edge. Its 11pm and my heart is still racing, and my chest feels very strange. These feelings are from the drug, not anything else! The doc and pharmacist do not explain any side effects or concerns. when i took Biaxin i had no idea that this was the cause of panic attacks that i was getting. I thought i was losing it at the time. Tomorrow i will head back to the doc and get this prescription changed hopefully to a 'nice' antibiotic...if there is such a thing.

I am just in shock. I have been on Avelox for 7 days now, and I can tell you that the side effects are not worth it. I still feel sick and have the bad cough. Now, I also have Thrush. But the weirdest and most upsetting part of this was that I didn't notice any of the other symptoms. So I went all week, talking a mile a minute, sweating, dry mouth, hallucinations, etc. Then on Saturday, a few of my friends staged an intervention. They actually believed that I was taking Crystal Meth - ICE. I was heartbroken, confused, and mad. I knew I had not done any illegal drugs, but several of my friends were convinced.

I went to the doctor today and found out that it was the Avelox. However, I had already taken today's dose. I even told the doctor about the situation with my friends and asked if this drug could be related. He said no, it must be the steroids and sent me on my way. As luck would have it, the pharmacist saw me in the store and approached. I asked him if Avelox could make me feel the way I was feeling. He told me that I should have never been prescribed Avelox and Effexor as they had drug interaction issues. He also told me that my symptoms were disclosed on the pamplet. The problem was that I got the Avelox as samples after the Augmenton didn't work.

So, I came home took the meds for the Thrush and watched tv. I haven't slept since Thursday, nor have I eaten since Saturday. I am hearing and seeing things. Now I am scared to go to sleep because I may not wake up. My heart is beating fast, I can't stop talking, dizzy, blurred vision, disoriented but extremely happy given the circumstances, paranoid, jittery, extremely thirsty even though unable to pee.

This is just horrible. I am not a drug adict and do not do Meth/Ice or any drug like that, but now my best friends are doubting me. They don't understand or believe that an antibiotic could do this and how am I supposed to prove it to them? It looks like, just because I got sick, I may lose some of my closest friends... Remember, most drug adicts and alcoholics DENY it first. Great, huh. Now everyone is going to be watching me to see if I am on drugs. I feel violated because evidently I got all high on this antibiotic, didn't enjoy it, and now am suffering the consequences.

What makes it worse is that people I love now don't trust me, and I didn't even know what was going on

Prescribed Avelox after previous antibiotic could not clear up sinusitis. Avelox cleared it up within three days, but I feel worse now. Extreme agitation/anxiety, tremors, twitches, no appetite, boughts of depression, dizzy, lack of coordination, accelerated heart rate, leg shake, cold extremities, very strange, vivid dreams. Doctor told me to stop taking and side effects should clear up in a few days ( I hope). This is nuts. I feel like I am going insane. I could not go to work for three days due to side effects.

Wow, I was prescribed this medication for a sinus infection that I had been battling for weeks. I took Avelox this morning, about 30 minutes later I started itching all over my body, under my arms on my thighs and my eyes started swelling, I could hardly see out of them, my throat was itching so bad , I started choking ,and my heart started racing, I had a weird strange feeling that I would be sick forever and maybe I was dying. I was home alone so I took two benadryl tablets and looked this medication up on the computer. The muscles in my legs started aching. I started to drink as much water as I could. It has been almost two hours since I took this mediation. I am breathing okay, but my eyes are swollen and very red. I will not take anymore of this medication, I knew I was having a reaction, (sulfa is the only mediation I have ever been allergic to, it is listed on my records) Sulfa made my face swell up so bad, I looked like a cartoon character.
I think I have passed the initial reaction, I hope so anyway.
juniperiam

My 20 yr old daughter was given Avelox 400mg to take one per day for 7 days for a sinus infection. Two hours after taking the first pill last night she became very drowsy and extremely nauseous and vomited several times. Her heart was racing and she felt unexplained anxiety as if she was having a panic attack, and couldn't sleep most of the night. Why don't doctors think before giving out medications!? Or at least warn the patient of these side effects which appear to be VERY common!

I was hospitalized on Christmas with a severe infection of my colon, so when I got discharged 5 days later the doctor prescribed Avelox 400 mg. for the last 7 days it has been hell. I cannot catch my breath even if I'm just sitting there, my chest is very tight, and it feels like my heart just wants to give up from trying so hard to breathe. I keep asking myself should I call an ambulance because it gets so bad with the anxiety that I cannot catch my breath. I'm 34 and in good health. but tonight after taking Avelox for 7 days I finally decided to research the side effects just to see if this was causing all my problems. This drug should be outlawed or the doctors prescribing it should sit down for 5 minutes and tell the patient all the possible side effects. where is the compassion in these doctors these days.

I'm a 47 yr old male who has constant sinus problems and recently( 2 weeks ago)had a bad sinus infection. I exercise regularly and am in pretty good shape(or so I would like to think). I have never had a bad allergic reaction that I can remember to anything. I was given a 10 day supply of Avelox to clear it up as I was supposed to go in for a sinus operation tomorrow. While I was on the Avelox last time, I don't remember experiencing any significant problems and I wasn't the best patient. I doubled up on doses in the beginning figuring it would work faster, took it on a empty stomach, drank a few beers over the weekend, etc. I went off of it a week ago and then this week I started to feel some cold symptoms coming on. Then yesterday at my pre-op visit my ENT gave me 2 pills (1 per day) to take prior to the surgery to "be on the safe side". I took one at 5 PM last night on an empty stomach and headed off to martial arts class. By the time I got there 20 minutes later I was feeling funny. I tried to work out but I felt lightheaded and had severe stomach pains. Then I had a hard time catching my breath under the slightest exertion. I normally jog 2-3 miles a couple of times a week with no problems so I was concerned. I left class and barely made it home. The only reason I didn't have a full blown anxiety attack was because I have suffered with them for years and recently feel I have been able to control them better. When I got home I was beet red from head to toe and my wife wanted me to go to the ER. I realized that it was a reaction to the Avelox and basically rode it out but it took about 3-4 hrs before I felt better again. I'm still not right today and I canceled my surgery for tomorrow. Now the ENT doctor wants to put me on something else before the surgery and I'm wondering if that's going to cause any problems.

I took Avelox for the first time yesterday evening at 9pm for a sinus infection. I awoke having to pee at 4:30am. On my way back to bed I became extremely dizzy, laid down-felt worse. My stomach was in pain and I felt I had to throw up (although I never threw up). I had chills and hot sweats. I couldn't fall back asleep because my heart was beating so fast. I have a continuous tingling throughout my body all the way to my toes.

Having to go to work at 8am- I still have the above symptoms, as I write, along with swollen eye lids and dry mouth. Driving to work was a chore and my hands while typing this are extremely heavy and somewhat uncontrollable. Meanwhile, my sinus infection is getting better.

I would advise anyone who has sensitivity overall to medications- not to take this drug.

I was prescribed Avelox in March for a suspected minor sinus infection, after having already completed a 14-day course of Augmentin with no side effects. After 3 doses of Avelox I stopped because of these symptoms: fever to 100.5, tingling in feet, blood in urine, dizziness, faintness, vomiting, gastritis. A few days later I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm), which I will now have to contend with for the rest of my life. Because I was formerly very healthy and had no heart problems, I am convinced the stress of the allergic reaction to Avelox caused the A fib. This drug should be avoided at all costs.

My sister was prescribed Avelox on Tuesday, March 11, 2008. Within 15-20 minutes she began having breathing difficulties. Because she has asthma her initial thought was that she was having an asthma attack. She tried asthma treatment and it didn't help. She soon was unable to breath. Her husband called 911, they responded quickly but had to intubate her in the ambulance. They know that she was without oxygen to her brain for at least 3-5 minutes. This caused seizures that lasted 20 hours before I.C.U. could get them under control. Unfortunately it caused brain damage leaving her with no higher brain function (vegetative state). As she has worked in the medical field for over 14 years she did not wish to be kept alive by artificial means. On Tuesday, March 18, 2008 her ventilation tube and feeding tube were removed. It is now Thursday, March 20, 2008 and she is in a wonderful Hospice House awaiting her death.
She had taken the same class of antibiotic in the past with no reaction. Really not sure what caused this one. She was going through chemo for breast cancer, but had just finished and was scheduled to start her radiation treatment. Her chemo doctor told us that since her reaction, they have had another patient who went into anaphylactic shock after taking Avelox.
My sister is only 43 years old. This medication should be taken off the market.

wow where do I begin. I took the first dose and my kidneys hurt like I had been on a drinking binge for weeks. I cried for three days straight and I started having pain in my bones this was only a warning for what was to come. I suddenly had a weird heartbeat I mean it was a really long weird heartbeat so I call my doctor she tells me to stop taking it and if anything worse happens between the time I had called about 3pm and the next day at 9 am then i need to go to the E.R so i just relax and hope nothing happens but the next day when I am supposed to take the drug (its a 24 hour pill) my brain squeezed in on itself and my dad informed me I was going through withdrawals but I was like how I only took it a few days he said those were DT's. The coming days I had to re learn how to walk and talk and just do simple tasks. Well its been over a year now and I now need to go get my heart checked because I am still having trouble with weird palpitations and beats its very strange. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYONE TAKE THIS MEDICATION!

I was prescribed Avelox for a sinus for 14 days, and have been taking it for 9 days now. I couldn't figure out why I'm so exhausted, dizzy, not sleeping, having heart palpitations, and aching joints until I found this site. I will not take any more of the pills, and have a call into my Doctor. I'm not sure I trust him to prescribe another drug after he gave this to me.

I was given Avelox after sinus surgery in August. I called the doctor told them I felt awful sick and nauseated. He switched me to another antibiotic. Here I am in December still not better been on at least two other antibiotics since the bought in August. I started Augmentin 3 weeks ago and had horrible itching after about a week being on it. Went back to my Doctor who out put me back on Avelox. Took the first dose at about 9 am within 30 minutes my throat was itchy and I was breaking out in hives and went into a panic attack. Took Benadryl as well as was prescribed Xanax for anxiety attacks still going on. I don't know if it is the fear of my throat closing but my pharmacy now has warnings for me for Penicillins as well as Avelox related drugs. Never had drug reactions before ever now . Went back to ENT put me on Medro pak which after seeing an allergist recommended. He also wanted me on Biaxin but I am not taking it at this point. There are allergy tests for drugs I would recommend and anyone experiencing any side effects to be checked after reactions to Avelox after reading this board I realize I was having an allergic reaction the first time in August and never should have been on it again.

I took Avelox 2 months ago for 7 days and experienced dizziness and fatigue, my sinus infection cleared up but for the next 2 months the dizziness and fatigue did not go away. I couldn't figure out what it was until I got another sinus infection and was prescribed it again... This time I have had crazy anxiety attacks, it feels like a thousand pound person is crushing my chest, my heart is racing, my neck is stiff, my joints hurt, my head has constant pressure on it. I feel like I am going to go to sleep and not wake up. I have had psychological issues and emotional outbursts. I have lost complete function and control of my body. My arms jumped while I was trying to eat, and couldn't even grab a fork. I feel like I am dieing or going to die. Its just crazy... I wouldn't recommend anyone to take it.

I am 24 year old male. The doctor said I have fluid in my ears. About on day 4 of taking the Avelox pill, I had a horrible attack. My pupils dilated and my heart began to race. My parents convinced me I was just having a panic attack or anxiety attack WHICH I HAVE NEVER HAD IN MY LIFE. I cannot sleep I wake up feeling like I am in a nightmare. I am short of breath, I feel so absolutely horrible, I wish I stopped taking it sooner! I just finished my last pill, day 10. I find myself asking god to help me and I am not even religious. I pray that my heart and body start feeling normal again in a few days. I know tomorrow I will not feel better, I have been taking the pill at 7 pm every night for the past 10 days. So I know I am in for a few more hellish days and nights. Email me if you have any advice or if we can sue anyone for this.

I took my first dose at 9:30pm and an hour later felt wierd and a little shaky for two hours. The second day I took it at 10pm and by 11, I was shaking, cold tingly hands and feet,dizzy, throat swelling at the base inside out, breathing trouble,chest pain and heart palps, diareah, stomach pain, and my forehead was numb. By 4am I had to wake up my husband to rush me to the ER. I could not walk by myself... felt like I was going to black out. I still felt most of the symptoms only milder for the next few days.

My dad had an anaphylactic reaction to avelox. Twenty minutes after taking the medication he became flushed and itchy. His face swelled. My dad is a physician and knew that he was having a reaction to the drug but did not know how severe it was. He had a nurse administer a depo medrol shot when in fact it should have been epinepherine. He ended up turning blue and passing out several times until oxygen could be administered. These events took place in his office. When he was in this state of shock, his collegues gave him an EKG and evidence of heart ischemia was recorded. His blood pressure dropped drastically. He was rushed to a hospital where they gave him benedryl and steroids. Thankfully he has recovered without any tissue damage to his heart or brain. Even though he had this reaction, he still feels that avelox is a great drug and that his reaction although extremely life threatening is rare. 1 in 30,000 people will develop this adverse reaction to avelox.